You must pass an eye test to get a learner’s or driver’s licence in South Africa. For an ordinary car licence (Code B), you need visual acuity of 6/12 in both eyes together, with or without glasses. For a heavy vehicle or a professional driving permit, the stricter standard of 6/9 in each eye applies. The test also checks your side vision and colour vision. A driving eye test costs roughly R50 to R350, and the certificate is valid for 6 months.
You can do the test at the driving licence testing centre on the day, or at an optometrist beforehand to skip the queue. Here is exactly what is checked and how to prepare.
Quick facts: the driving eye test
| Item | Detail |
|---|---|
| Standard for a car (Code B) | 6/12, both eyes together |
| Standard for heavy vehicles and PrDP | 6/9 in each eye |
| Also tested | Side vision and colour vision |
| Where | At the DLTC, or at an optometrist |
| Cost | About R50 to R350 |
| Certificate validity | 6 months |
| If you need glasses to pass | A corrective lens condition is added to your licence |
What the eye test checks
The driving eye test is not a full eye examination. It screens the three things that matter for safe driving.
The first is visual acuity, how clearly you can read a letter chart at a set distance. The second is your field of vision, how much you can see to the sides while looking straight ahead, which matters for spotting a pedestrian or a car merging from the side. The third is colour vision, so you can tell traffic signals apart.
The examiner tests each eye on its own by asking you to cover one eye at a time, then tests both eyes together.
The 6/12 standard for a car licence
For an ordinary Code B licence, you need visual acuity of 6/12 or better with both eyes together, with or without corrective lenses. In plain terms, 6/12 means you can read at 6 metres what a person with normal vision reads at 12 metres. It is not perfect vision, but it is enough to drive safely.
If you need glasses or contact lenses to reach 6/12, that is fine. Your licence will simply carry a condition that you must wear them whenever you drive.
The 6/9 standard for heavy vehicles and a PrDP
Professional and heavy vehicle drivers are held to a higher standard. For Code C1, C, EC1 and EC licences, and for a professional driving permit, you need 6/9 or better in each eye, tested separately rather than together. Heavy vehicles have larger blind spots and longer stopping distances, so the stricter standard reflects the greater responsibility.
Heavy vehicle applicants must also meet a side vision requirement, with a temporal field of at least 70 degrees in each eye. This catches drivers who have good central vision but have quietly lost their peripheral vision, which is common with conditions like glaucoma.
Colour vision
You must be able to tell red, amber and green apart so that you can read traffic signals. Most people who are mildly colour blind pass without trouble, because they can also read the position of the light, top, middle or bottom, and the standard traffic colours are chosen to be distinguishable. If you know you are colour blind, mention it to the optometrist so they can assess you properly and note anything relevant.
Where to do the test: DLTC or optometrist
You have two options. The driving licence testing centre has its own vision screening machine, and you can be tested there on the day of your application. The machines are functional but the queues are long, and some people find them uncomfortable.
The alternative is to have the test done by a qualified optometrist first. Most optical chains offer a standard driver’s licence eye test that takes 15 to 20 minutes, and the optometrist issues an official certificate that you take to the testing centre. Doing it beforehand lets you bypass the eye testing queue on the day. If the optometrist is not on the DLTC’s own premises, confirm that they are registered to issue the official form before you pay.
What it costs
A dedicated driving eye test certificate at most optical chains costs about R50 to R100. Some optometrists fold it into a full eye examination, which runs closer to R300 to R600 and is worth considering if you have not had your eyes checked in a while. A few optometrists offer a free driving eye test to attract walk-in customers, so it is worth asking.
How long the certificate lasts
An eye test certificate is valid for 6 months from the date it is issued. If you do not apply for your learner’s or driver’s licence within that window, you will need a fresh test. For that reason, do not get tested months in advance of your booking.
If you do not meet the standard
If your uncorrected vision falls short, you are not automatically turned away. In most cases you are given a form to take to an optometrist for a proper eye examination and a prescription. Once you have the right glasses or contact lenses, you retake the test, pass with your vision corrected, and your licence carries a condition requiring you to wear them while driving. Only in rare cases, where vision cannot be corrected to the legal minimum, can a licence not be issued.
How we worked this out
The vision standards on this page are based on the National Road Traffic Act 93 of 1996 and its regulations dealing with defective vision, which set the 6/12 acuity standard for ordinary licences and the stricter 6/9 standard and field-of-vision requirements for professional and heavy vehicle drivers. Cost and validity reflect the current practice at driving licence testing centres and optometrists. This page is general information and not a medical assessment of your own eyesight.
Frequently asked questions
What vision do you need to pass the driver’s licence eye test? For a car (Code B) you need 6/12 vision with both eyes together, with or without glasses. For heavy vehicles and a professional driving permit, you need 6/9 in each eye.
How much does a driver’s licence eye test cost? About R50 to R100 for a dedicated driving eye test certificate at an optical chain, or R300 to R600 if it is part of a full eye examination. Some optometrists offer it free.
Where can I do the eye test? At the driving licence testing centre on the day, or beforehand at a qualified optometrist who issues an official certificate you take to the centre.
How long is the eye test certificate valid? Six months from the date it is issued. If you do not apply for your licence within that window, you need a new test.
What happens if I fail the eye test? You are usually referred to an optometrist for a proper exam and a prescription. Once your vision is corrected with glasses or contacts, you retake the test and pass, and your licence notes that you must wear them while driving.
